Patriot Act's Renewal Splits GOP Presidential Field

The showdown over the extension of key provisions in the USA Patriot Act may showcase for voters the first "clear divide between the hawkish and libertarian-leaning contenders" for the presidency, according to The Hill.

On Friday, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul took a swipe at former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush via Twitter, sending out a message that read:

"The best part of the Obama administration." That's how one member of our party described the NSA's illegal domestic spying program. (1/8)

Paul was referring to Bush’s comments last week on a radio show, during which he said the continuation of the National Security Agency's (NSA) controversial bulk collection of metadata — a practice revealed by NSA leaker Edward Snowden — was "the best part" of the Obama administration.

"Even though he [Obama] never defends it, even though he never openly admits it, there has been a continuation of a very important service, which is the first obligation I think of our national government is to keep us safe," Bush said during an appearance on the Michael Medved show, CNN reports.

The Patriot Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush shortly after 9/11 and, in 2011, President Barack Obama signed an extension of it. Three of its most highly debated provisions will expire at the end of May if no action is taken.

Those provisions include roving wiretaps, searches of business records, and conducting surveillance of lone wolves, or people suspected of terrorist-related activities who are not linked to known terrorist groups.

Many Democrats and some Republicans are pushing for reforms, and others, like Paul, want to see the Patriot Act scrapped altogether.

Politico has reported that those in favor of changing the law want to see more light shined on telephone companies' participation in the surveillance program, and reforms to the secret court created under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

On Friday, Paul sent a Twitter message promising to get rid of the law on his first day in office.

On day one in the Oval Office, I will END the NSA's illegal assault on your rights. Can I count on your support? https://t.co/T8zilkp1HY

"I'm in this race to [...] restore our liberties," he also wrote. "And that starts with ENDING the NSA's illegal domestic spying program. The metadata collection program was created by the Executive Branch. And on Day One, I will end this illegal assault on our rights."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, also seeking the Republican nomination, has a "more moderate" approach to narrow the surveillance program, according to The Hill, while Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says keeping the status quo is key to the country’s safety.

"I believe it is not a question of if, but of when, the next major terrorist attack occurs," Rubio told the New Hampshire Union Leader, The Hill reported. "And the first question people are going to have is: 'Why didn’t we know about it?'"

The showdown over the extension of key provisions in the USA Patriot Act may showcase for voters the first "clear divide between the hawkish and libertarian-leaning contenders" for the presidency, according to The Hill.